Snap hooe



3o the nose of which is turned downward toward ward and over the body, to form the hook C; the end or nose a of the hook turned downward toward the body, but sov as to leave'a space between the nose and body of the hook sucient for the introduction of the ring, or

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JOHN H. SIAW, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SARGENT` SLCO., OF SAME PLACE.

SNAP-H OOK.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,683, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed January 28, 1884. (No model.)

o @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. SHAW, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Snap-Hooks; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, asideview; Fig. 2, atop view; Fig. 3, asectional side view; Fig. 4, a transverse section; Fig. 5, a modification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of snap-,hooks in which the mouth of the hook is closed by a longitudinally-sliding bolt. In the more general construction of this class of hooks the bolt slides in a barrel formed in the body of the hook toward and from the end of the hook. This necessitates mechanically drawing the bolt awaygfrom the nose of the hook in order to make engagement.

The object of my invention is to construct this class of hook so that it may be engaged in substantially the same manner as the latchhook, and without applying any mechanical force directly to the bolt; and it consists in the body terminating at one end in a device for attachment, and at the other .in a hook,

the body of the-hook, combined with 'a bolt and spring, the tendency of which spring is to force the bolt rearward from the hook, the forward end or nose of the bolt arranged to pass forward beneath the nose of the hook, and with a recess in rear of the nose of the bolt, into which the device to be engaged may enter, and so as to pass forward with the bolt beneath the nose of the hook and escape within the hook, as more fully hereinafter described. A is the body of the hook, terminating `at one,` end in the usual loop, B, or other means for attaching the hook to the strap, or whateverit may be. The other end is turned upverted-U shape, so as to set over'the body, as

seen in Fig. 4, the legs of the U embracing opposite sides of the body; and in the body is a longitudinal recess, E, in which a spring, F, is arranged, the spring taking its bearing on the forward end of the recess E, its other end resting'against a pin or cross-bar, b, connecting the opposite sides of the bolt through the recess; hence the tendency of the spring is to force the bolt rearward or toward the loop. The extreme forward end, d, of the bolt, when in its rear position, stands beneath the 'nose a of the hook, and so as to close the mouth of the hook. Immediately in rear of the forward end, d, is a transverse recess, e, in size sufficient to receive the ring, or whatever itV may lbe,with which the hook is to be engaged. At therear, or at some convenient point, the bolt is provided with a thumb-piece, j", by which the person holding the hook by the loop may apply his thumb and force the bolt forward into the position seen in broken lines, Fig. l. To engage the hook it is placed upon the ring so as to bring the ring within the recess e, as indicated in broken lines, Figs. l

and 2. Then a pull rearward, the ring being stationaryfwill draw the bolt forward and lbring the recess e within the hook, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. l. In that position the ring slips from the recess e and the bolt returns by the action of its spring, leavingthe ring engaged with the hook, and from which it cannot be disengaged until the bolt is returned to the position seen in broken lines, and the ring set into that recess. Then the bolt, returning, brings the ring outside the hook, to permit disengagement.

While I prefer to make the bolt inverted- U shape, so that its two sides will embrace the body and cover the spring-recess, the bolt may be otherwise shaped, as seen in Fig. 5- that is, the bend of the U omitted.

I claiml. The herein-described snap-hook, consist-` ing of the body A, terminating at one end in a device for attachment and at the other in the hook C, its nose a turned downward to- IOO ward the body of the hook, combined with a longitudinally-sliding spring-bolt, D, constructed at its forward end to pass beneath the nose of the hook, and with a transverse recess, e, in rear of its forward end, and so as to leave a space or recess in rear of the forward end of the bolt for the introduction of the engaging device, and the spring F, substantially as described.

.2. The combination of the body A, terminating at one end in a'device for attaching the hook, and at the other end in the hook C, its nose turned downward toward the body of the hook, the body constructed with a recess, 

